June Mershon Vail

Saturday

Jan 5, 2013 at 12:01 AM

June Mershon Vail, 90, died Nov. 27, 2012.

Born during a snowstorm on Jan. 11, 1922, to Theodore H. and Mae Lorraine (Decker) Vail, she passed away quietly during the first snow of the season. She was a direct descendant of Jacob Stroud, founder of Stroudsburg. She grew up on Franklin Hill in East Stroudsburg at her parents Orchard Hill Gardens, also known as Vail's Nursery. She met the challenges of life with courage and determination.

She is survived by her brother, Laurence N. Vail of Lancaster, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Theodore H. and Mae L. Vail; brothers, William R. Vail Sr. and Lynn N. Vail; and longtime companion, Eleanor Genoa.

She graduated from East Stroudsburg High School in 1940 and from Ambler School of Horticulture (now part of Temple University) in 1942. From 1942 to 1945, she worked as a horticulturist at Ambler Nursery, growing trees and shrubs from seed and cuttings, also growing vegetables and medicinal herbs for use during World War II.

For nine years she worked at White's Bog, New Jersey, for Joseph J. White Inc., under the direction of Elizabeth C. White, founder of Ocean Spray Cranberry Co. She worked with blueberries, cranberries and American holly.

In her life as a horticulturist, she worked for W. Atlee Burpee Seed Co. of Philadelphia for 10 years, and for the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society (PHS) from 1964 to 1968. At PHS she planned and planted an 18th century garden. She presented Mrs. Lyndon Johnson a commemoration plaque for the dedication of the garden. She also grew and prepared flowers for the spring flower show in Philadelphia. She was a specialist on the plants growing in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey and often led trips there and presented slide shows to help educate the interested about the unique plants and wildflowers found there.

Her interests in all things seed and stem provided her with many years of enjoyment as a wild crafter. She taught classes in wild crafting and design. She made evergreen wreaths during the holidays and many items from a large seed and cone collection. Late in life she made and gifted many a "cone critter" to the delight of young and old alike.

June was a charter member of the American Holly Society and many of the older hollys in the Stroudsburg area came from her plantings. She was a life member of Pennsylvania Horticultural Society since 1964, a trustee at Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve since 1972, a life member and board member of the Pocono Forestry Association, and a lifetime member of the Monroe County Historical Association. She left behind an extensive investigation into the family genealogy.

There will be a celebration of her life by family and friends in the spring when the flowers are blooming. The family would like to thank her friends and neighbors for their loving helpfulness in her later years.

Memorial donations can be made to Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve online at bhwp.org or by check to: BHWP, PO Box 6851, 1635 River Road, New Hope, PA 18938.